Contents

Introduction

As a person living with HIV, you might wonder if having a child is an option for you. Rest assured that people living with HIV can have children – and many do!

There are many ways to have a child, including options for people of all genders* and sexual orientations. It is possible to have a child through pregnancy, surrogacy or adoption. All of these options are possible for people living with HIV. 

We know that people who are on HIV treatment and have an undetectable viral load do not pass HIV to their sexual partners. For people who want to get pregnant, maintaining an undetectable viral load also prevents HIV from being passed to the baby during pregnancy and delivery.

You may be planning to have a child soon, or maybe you just want some information in case you decide to have a child in the future. Either way, this resource will help you to understand your options.

*We acknowledge the diversity of people living with HIV, including trans people. Where possible, we have used gender-neutral language in this resource. In some places, gendered language (i.e. the terms “woman” and “female” to describe a person who is able to get pregnant, and “man” and “male” to refer to a person who intends to use their sperm to make a baby) has been used for clarity. The information in this resource is relevant for trans people. Trans people who want to pursue pregnancy are encouraged to get more information from a healthcare provider who is knowledgeable about pregnancy planning for trans people.